Magni USA LLC

Updated September 26, 2018 — This article has been updated to include more producers. See at bottom. —DJOver many years, you have found LSA market share information on this website. Many have found this of interest …from businesses learning more about their market; to customers doing careful investigation before paying tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for a new aircraft; to government fulfilling its task of regulating industry; to insurance companies assessing risk of providing their product; and many other actors in the blockbuster movie that is light, recreational aviation.
I will have more to say about the broader LSA market share reports below but now I want to present the best information I have seen for Light-Sport Aircraft Gyroplanes.
…uh, except for one problem. No such aircraft category exists, SLSA gyroplanes, that is.

SilverLight Aviation's AR-1; photo by Amy Saunders

FAA has denied fully-built Special LSA status to rotary winged aircraft such as gyroplanes. LAMA thought this was on track for a solution as recently as two months ago (see report), but today, the matter is back in doubt, truly a shame as these aircraft are thriving around the world.
Rotax has reported for some time that they sellmore 9-series engines to gyroplanes as a specific category than to other groups. Indeed, sellers like Germany's AutoGyro have more than 2,500 units flying.
FAA's rotorcraft personnel are living in the past, remembering the problems of early machines like the Bensen Gyrocopter. Before training and before design evolution, those aircraft did have a undesirable safety record. However, that has been remedied… long ago, actually.

Our new associate, Steve Beste, wrote an excellent article for his club newsletter and I will summarize that piece in another post.
In his article, he wrote, "[Along with better training] the other change since those days is the large horizontal stabilizer, mounted well aft. Some machines were prone to PIO, pilot-induced oscillations in pitch. The pilot would chase the oscillations, only making them worse until the gyro did a fatal bunt over. The large tail that Magni invented – as is used on all modern gyros – has fixed that."

Welcoming Steve Beste

"I'm a retired computer guy and trike pilot who loves databases," Steve told me. He used his special set of skills to download FAA's aircraft registration database to compile statistics on gyroplane registrations, focused on the new European-style gyroplanes.
As you can see, AutoGyro is the clear market leader at 52% with 163 aircraft of 312 gyroplanes registered with FAA. The German builder is trailed by Magni in the #2 slot at 18% with 56 registrations.
A new American manufacturer, SilverLight Aviation, has quickly tied Spanish producer ELA for third at 8% with 26 aircraft registered for each. After that it trails off more quickly as Steve's chart shows. More details about other brands will be chronicled in an article to follow.
For 2018 through July 23rd, Magni shows its strength by slightly beating AutoGyro U.S. registrations. As always, note that confirmed sales and registrations may not match precisely. In addition, much more of 2018 remains. In slightly more than half a year, gyroplanes registered 58 aircraft putting them on track to exceed 100 for the year. To offer perspective, this figure is approaching half as many as SLSA fixed wing registrations in recent full years.

Magni Gyro's M24 Orion

So far this year, Magni has 15 registrations to AutoGyro's 14 for 26% and 24% shares totaling half of total U.S. gyroplane registrations. SilverLight has registered 8 aircraft in 2018 for a 14% yearly share of 2018 to date.
A less well recognized U.S. producer, Tango, is having a respectable year, with 9 registrations accounting for 16% in 2018 so far. Tango is trailed by ELA with 6 registrations (10%), Australia's Titanium and Italy's Brako tied at 3 for 5% each. One interesting point: only Tango and Brako offer a single place gyroplane; all others are two place machines.

Much More Data to Follow!

Steve Beste and I have been discussing him providing database research to allow this website to continue providing LSA Market Share Info. Many visitors have written to ask; indeed, we are way behind on this effort.

ELA's 10-Eclipse

The delay is ending. After Steve gets time to study the previous work and methods, he has proposed some wonderful improvements.
About the special skills he can offer, Steve wrote, "I'm a retired computer guy and trike pilot who loves databases." Well, that certainly sounds perfect to me.
"I'm also the president of Flying Club 1, which was the original USUA Chapter 1," Steve added. "Regarding the FAA database, I'd very much like to reach beyond just [fixed wing] airplanes, partly because I'm a trike pilot, myself. I think that's entirely possible."
Given this background, his obvious enthusiasm for this work, and the keen interest of many in light aviation, I am exceedingly pleased to welcome Steve to this website.
"[However, FAA's] data is not clean," Steve observed. I am well aware of this problem. Uncertainty about data accuracy of "alternative" LSA is why we have reported fixed wing Special LSA, only offering guesses for weight shift trikes, powered parachutes, gyroplanes, motorgliders, and more.
However, we hope that will now change and our market share reporting will be more inclusive. Hurray!
Problems in FAA's database is not caused by incompetent clerks. Agency personnel must sort through inconsistently-reported aircraft. If, as Steve pointed out in one example, the registered name of the aircraft is slightly different, it won't show up on a casual investigation.
He added, "There's no end of that kind of thing …just so we know the limitations on this exercise. But with that understanding, I love this kind of thing, I have the skills to do it, and would be honored to support your good work for the sport." All such reporting will be available on the home page when fresh and catalogued on its own space found by this link.
Wonderful, simply wonderful! Please welcome Steve Beste as a new contributor to ByDanJohnson.com!UPDATE September 26, 2018 — In the article above, I inadvertently suggested SilverLight and their American Ranger gyroplane was the first or only U.S. producer of such aircraft. That is not what I intended but some readers viewed it that way. Allow me to bring your attention to two other producers.

Sport Copter & Rotor Flight Dynamics

Based in Oregon, Sport Copter is a long established, second-generation family business started in 1958. Chuck Vanek was one of the early pioneers of gyroplane design and development beginning his work in 1957.
Chuck's son Jim Vanek took over the business and revamped the Vancraft designs. He said his "award-winning, world’s-first, two-place gyroplane took the prestigious Charles Lindbergh award at the Oshkosh airshow in 1985." The company also reports his Sport Copter II design was voted as one of the Top Ten Best Designs at AirVenture in 2011.
An airshow performer, Jim said he wrote the parameters and guidelines for gyroplane looping for the FAA in 1998 after performing the world’s first loop in a conventional gyroplane, in 1997. The company's website reports, "He is the only gyro pilot in the world that holds an International Council of Air Shows card for gyroplane looping and rolling." Don't even think about trying this yourself, however.Rotor Flight Dynamics, founded and run by Ernie Boyette, produces a two place and single variations of their Dominator line. Sold as kit aircraft, the two-place model can be powered by Hirth four-cylinder engines, Subaru/AutoFlight EA-81, or the 115-horsepower Rotax 914 Turbo.
The company said, "We offer 22 thru 28 foot rotor blades of our own design with a lift capability from ultralight thru 1,200 pounds gross weight." They added, "We are the only manufacturer that test flies all blade sets prior to shipping." For export, Rotor Flight will fully build their aircraft but in the USA, FAA will only permit them to deliver kits, the same as all gyroplane producers.
As with all the modern gyroplanes, Rotor Flight uses a substantial tailplane. "The Dominator [series of one and two-place machines] incorporate the Tall Tail design for stability." Asked how their product differs, the company's website states, "What makes the Dominator so unique is its high profile design. It sits up very high off the ground."

Updated September 26, 2018 — This article has been updated to include more producers. See at bottom. —DJ
Over many years, you have found LSA market share information on this website. Many have found this of interest …from businesses learning more about their market; to customers doing careful investigation before paying tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for a new aircraft; to government fulfilling its task of regulating industry; to insurance companies assessing risk of providing their product; and many other actors in the blockbuster movie that is light, recreational aviation.
I will have more to say about the broader LSA market share reports below but now I want to present the best information I have seen for Light-Sport Aircraft Gyroplanes.
…uh, except for one problem. No such aircraft category exists, SLSA gyroplanes, that is.
FAA has denied fully-built Special LSA status to rotary winged aircraft such as gyroplanes.

This article was updated with additional photos; see at bottom.
Midwest LSA Expo held a special ceremony to honor two men in their donation of a beautiful LSA-like aircraft now permanently displayed on an striking pedestal near the airport entrance.
Lots of airports have military aircraft mounted on pedestals. Even AirVenture, base of the homebuilders, has military fighters on raised displays — including the famous "jet-on-a-stick" near the show entrance. These displays honor a warbird heritage but those aircraft aren't what most members fly.
Enter Light-Sport Aircraft. While some have gotten deluxe far beyond the original concept — with prices to match — many affordable aircraft still make up the category of Light-Sport Aircraft, light kit aircraft, and ultralight aircraft. These aircraft are what "real" people fly.
Midwest LSA Expo has now reached its 10th birthday, staying focused on showcasing this sector of aircraft. So, perhaps it is fitting that today they had a ceremony honoring a donation of a futuristic jet LSA design (technically "LSA-like"). To properly display an aircraft built to be a mockup, airport manager and dynamo Chris Collins organized an effort to make a handsome pedestal for the aircraft. Chris and team had to firmly cradle the aircraft to weather the elements. That they did it so artfully is icing on the cake.

A decal on the nose of the Hansen's Peregrine reads, "LSA Transcontinental Speed Record; Jacksonville – San Diego June 8, 2009" — Read the whole story here.

At a ceremony to thank brothers Jon and Ron Hansen, who donated the "jet on the stick," Chris got the mayor of Mt. Vernon and other officials to make an appearance. SW21 Jet is another creation of the fertile mind of Hans Schwöller, the man behind the stunning SW51.
Jon and Ron Hansen are figureheads in the LSA game since day one. Hansen Air Group was the first U.S. distributor for Tecnam and helped introduce the large Italian manufacturer to Americans. Today Tecnam manages its own U.S. outlet but Hansen gave them a good push forward.
Hansen Air Group has represented other brands such as FK Lightplanes, Sky Arrow, ScaleWings, and others. In particular, Hansen has been a key supporter of using LSA fitted with hand controls to allow handicapped persons take flying lessons. Although Hansen Air Group is gradually easing out of the business, Jon Hansen, brother Ron and Jon's sons Mike and Mitch — all airline pilots — have been important people as the Light-Sport Aircraft industry grew. It's fair to say, LSA would not the same without their long, steady input.

More Video Pilot Reports

Although weather all around Mt. Vernon foiled the arrival of several paid vendors, the airport itself has been flyable nearly all of both days so far. Saturday, the 8th is the third and concluding day.
Vendors in attendance logged steady demo flights to prospective customers. I've written that Midwest LSA Expo is our very best location to do Video Pilot Reports (VPRs) and the same applies to getting a demo flight before you complete an order for a new aircraft. The show and Mt. Vernon airport are extremely good at providing this opportunity.
I'll present reports ASAP but time is precious, so I'll just say now that we've now logged four VPRs.
On opening day we did the Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen and Rans Aircraft's S-21 Outbound.
Today, we captured the AeroEast Discovery 600 and a 914-powered Magni M-16 Gyroplane. Tomorrow, we hope to repeat. It takes a few hours to mount all the cameras, do a series of recorded landings and fly-bys, go evaluate the aircraft for an hour or so, and then record a video recap of the flight and the aircraft. Getting two of these done is an honest day's work. (…then the editing starts — many more hours).

At dinner tonight we discussed the 10th year of Midwest LSA Expo with airport manager and Expo leader, Chris Collins. While he's frustrated about the weather east and west Mt. Vernon and those who could not fly in because of it, those that did display gave a steady stream of demo flights and we captured video we hope you will like.
I'm calling it a winner.
Keep watching Videoman Dave's You Tube channel as these VPRs are uploaded for your viewing entertainment and education.

More Images of the SW21 Jet Dedication

Airport manager Chris Collins forwarded more photos of the ceremony dedicating the SW21 Jet to the Mt. Vernon airport. Of the one with Jon Hansen reverently touching the main support for the aircraft he donated to the airport, Chris said, "I love this shot!"

Mayor Speaks

In the second Mt. Vernon Mayor John Lewis makes a few remarks while brothers Jon and Ron Hansen wear their trademark broad smiles.
In the lower image, Chris identified all the parties that helped make this unusual light aircraft display possible.

This article was updated with additional photos; see at bottom.
Midwest LSA Expo held a special ceremony to honor two men in their donation of a beautiful LSA-like aircraft now permanently displayed on an striking pedestal near the airport entrance.
Lots of airports have military aircraft mounted on pedestals. Even AirVenture, base of the homebuilders, has military fighters on raised displays — including the famous “jet-on-a-stick” near the show entrance. These displays honor a warbird heritage but those aircraft aren’t what most members fly.
Enter Light-Sport Aircraft. While some have gotten deluxe far beyond the original concept — with prices to match — many affordable aircraft still make up the category of Light-Sport Aircraft, light kit aircraft, and ultralight aircraft. These aircraft are what “real” people fly.
Midwest LSA Expo has now reached its 10th birthday, staying focused on showcasing this sector of aircraft. So, perhaps it is fitting that today they had a ceremony honoring a donation of a futuristic jet LSA design (technically “LSA-like”).

Mike and Jonathan fly the Magni Gryo M16. All photos courtesy John Craparo

This article has been modified since originally posted. —DJ
These days you can go to Cuba. You can even fly to the island nation. Yet one thing no one has been doing… is flying VFR to Cuba. According to John Craparo, this was the first time in at least 60 years.
They were also the first-ever gyroplanes to arrive in Havana.
John was joined by his three gyro friends — Dayton Dabbs, Mike Baker, and Jonathan Prickett — in a pair of Magni Gyro tandem two seaters, both M16 models. The gyroplanes were accompanied by two SportCruiser LSA, a pair of Bonanzas, and a Cirrus SR20.
For the faster, fixed wing aircraft the 100-mile crossing was not a major challenge. However, any water crossing where you fly out of sight of land in a single engine airplane will earn your rapt attention.

Prepared for an over ocean flight where Friendship 4 would lose all sight of land.

It was a bigger deal yet to cross an expanse of ocean in open cockpit gyroplanes flying less than 100 miles an hour with 19 gallons of fuel on board. Doing so into a strong headwind added a further complication. Then, you have Cuban air traffic controllers who had never handled a VFR arrival. Besides circuitous vectoring, one of the gyros was assigned a holding pattern with fuel diminishing by the minute. See how this got interesting?
John is no stranger to long distance flying in his gyroplane. He and partner Dayton Dabbs earned several FAI and NAA records for gyroplane flying. A recent expedition took them from Dallas’ Love field, to Santa Monica, to New York’s La Guardia, and back to Dallas. That continental criss-crossing in a open cockpit aircraft flying less than 100 miles an hour convinced them the flight to Cuba was quite achievable. Indeed, the trip from home base in Texas to the jump-off point of Marathon Key airport (KMTH) in Florida was a much longer trip than the final leg to Cuba.

John and Dayton fly another M16 Magni Gryo.

Why “Friendship 4?” John explained the name is a adaptation from Friendship 7, the famous John Glenn pioneering flight into space. John Craparo said, “This was a people to people tour, to show Cubans that Americans are good people.” At that goal, the group seemed to succeed with big smiles, shaking of many hands, and warm embraces from Cuban people. Even state officials were receptive to their visit. “We were assigned no government ‘handlers’,” added Craparo.
The visit to Cuba was about both the destination and voyage. Since you’ll be able to read more and more about the island nation, this article focuses on the flying of light aircraft. Some challenges are obvious; others less so.

Rights of Passage

Although governments have eased the permissions required, the task is still rather daunting. John enlisted the aid of AirRally.com, a Canadian company that handled the effort of assuring the right steps were taken.

On approach to Havana's José Martí International Airport.

The group had a tight schedule. Their special visas required they fly over on May 19th with mandatory return on the 22nd. Those were the assigned travel days and weather could not be an excuse for delays.
“We flew at 85 knots but fought a 30-knot headwind,” recalled John Craparo. The 100 nautical mile trip plus maneuvering for traffic would consume more than two hours and the majority of their fuel supply. Therefore obtaining fuel in Cuba was a must.
“We wondered if 100LL fuel or any alternative was available as, unlike the fixed wing airplanes, we lacked sufficient fuel to make the round trip.” John and the gyro team discussed the task beforehand and elected to go. Yet they didn’t know about the headwind or the air traffic control experience when they made this decision.
The straight line distance was only about 100 nautical miles but with ATC vectoring, it was closer to 130 nautical.

The gyroplane team was warmly received by officials.

“We were told we had to cross the ADIZ by 10 AM or turn around and go back,” John noted, adding another pressure point to the plan.
Crossing that much water is a serious matter. They prepared. Each aircraft had two GPS units, dual radios. life vests, personal locators, Spot trackers, flare guns, and even a knife to attempt fending off any sharks or other predators. Gyroplanes are not designed to carry a lot of baggage, so after the safety gear, “we packed very light,” explained John. “We had two pairs of underwear, socks, and shorts. We planned to do laundry on the island.”

Arriving Over Cuba

Other than the headwind, the crossing was uneventful, but remember, the controllers had never handled a VFR flight so vectoring and being directed into clouds resulted. “We had five or 10 minutes of uncertainty with ATC after advising them we could not do IFR flight,” John clarified. Like controllers around the world, the Cubans spoke English but the pair of gyroplanes had to work things out in the air.

Sights in Havana stir memories of the '50s.

John’s Magni got on the ground first and successfully, but after waiting anxiously, still had no word about the other M16 gyroplane.
“They had been put in a holding pattern and were ignored for a time,” related John. It was only minutes but, given the situation, seemed like hours. After pleading their fuel predicament to Cuban controllers, they were finally given clearance to land.
“When the second gyroplane shut down, 1.5 gallons — 15 to 20 minutes‘ worth — of fuel remained, exclaimed John!
John recorded his time from engine start in Marathon, Florida to shutdown in Havana at 2.5 hours. To compare, with calm winds on the return to America, the flight was only 1.5 hours.
These Rotax engines burn between four to six gallons per hour depending on the power setting, so two and half hours equates to 12-15 gallons used. With 19 total on board, a return flight was not possible. The second gyro, delayed longer by Cuban ATC, consumed more of their supply.
Being safe on the ground is good but clearly the gyro team needed to negotiate some fuel and only Jet A was commonly supplied on the airport.

After lengthy discussions — including the possibility of siphoning fuel from one or more of the GA airplanes who were not fuel challenged — a solution was found with help from the AirRally people. A fuel truck was procured and the gyroplanes were fueled with what was described as 100 octane fuel at a modest price. “All things considered it seemed a good value,” John said. Payment had to be in cash; credit cards are not used in Cuba. John and partners were prepared, thanks to their own study and advice from AirRally.com.
“We ran the engines for a time after uploading the fuel,” John indicated, but the fuel turned out to be good and the flight home went without incident.
The experience in Cuba was excellent and interesting, according to the flight of seven. Friendship 4 will no doubt replay the trip in their minds for years to come, especially the rather tense arrival.
"Thanks to everyone who cheered us on," finished John.

This article has been modified since originally posted. —DJ
These days you can go to Cuba. You can even fly to the island nation. Yet one thing no one has been doing… is flying VFR to Cuba. According to John Craparo, this was the first time in at least 60 years.
They were also the first-ever gyroplanes to arrive in Havana.
John was joined by his three gyro friends — Dayton Dabbs, Mike Baker, and Jonathan Prickett — in a pair of Magni Gyro tandem two seaters, both M16 models. The gyroplanes were accompanied by two SportCruiser LSA, a pair of Bonanzas, and a Cirrus SR20.
For the faster, fixed wing aircraft the 100-mile crossing was not a major challenge. However, any water crossing where you fly out of sight of land in a single engine airplane will earn your rapt attention.
It was a bigger deal yet to cross an expanse of ocean in open cockpit gyroplanes flying less than 100 miles an hour with 19 gallons of fuel on board.